Get the Workbook | Facilitator Guide | You probably know from school, sports, and other activities that nothing worthwhile is easy. We often have to put aside what we want right now to get what we truly want. While all four levels of happiness are good, if we want a truly satisfying and peaceful life, we will want to focus on making a positive difference for others, the culture we live in, and the Kingdom of God.
Even more, we will not try to ignore our desire for the transcendent. Ultimately, experiencing level four happiness requires us to follow God’s call to Himself by making a little leap of faith. If we do make this leap, God strengthens our relationship with Him through grace. And then we come to know in our hearts the most comforting truth of all: that true happiness does not depend on things we have, or how we compare to others, or on anything else temporary in this world, but comes from giving ourselves completely to God, who brings us to the perfectly loving home we yearn for.
In this episode you will learn that ...
■ Our view of happiness shapes what we are looking for in life.
■ To transition out of a level one-two dominant life, we will need to change our fundamental attitudes on the purpose of our life, our view of others, our view of ourselves, and our view of freedom.
■ Looking for the good in others makes it easier to empathize with them and looking for the good in ourselves helps us live up to our God-given potential.
■ If we have the perspective of “freedom for” rather than “freedom from,” we will see that the constraint, self-discipline, and sacrifices of lower levels of happiness are worthwhile if they lead to level three and four happiness, making life more peaceful and satisfying.
■ God wants us to freely choose Him, and calls us to Him in our hearts, as well as through a Church community, transcendent beauty, and philosophical and theological wisdom.
■ We must choose to follow the call of the transcendent by making a little leap of faith.
About Fr Spitzer: Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on May 16, 1952, Fr. Spitzer is a Catholic priest in the Jesuit order and is currently the President of the Magis Center of Reason and Faith (magiscenter.com). The Magis Center produces documentaries, books, high school programs, college courses, adult-education programs, and social media materials on the close connection among science, reason, and faith. Fr. Spitzer is also the President, Master of Ceremonies, and speaker at the Napa Institute (napa-institute.org).